F–ked Up, ‘Hidden World’ (Jade Tree)

On their debut album, this Toronto punk quintet speak volumes without playing a note: Just to utter their name is to be down, to sign up for a worldview that’s absolutely committed to uncovering how the world is, well, you know. And though vocalist/alleged schizophrenic Pink Eyes bellows in classic corpulent-hard-core-lifer fashion (shades of Poison Idea), lyrics referencing both Greek astronomy and the Old Testament, as well as guitar textures indebted more to Glenn Branca than Black Flag, reveal an art-rock ace up the band’s tattered sleeve. Which isn’t to say Hidden World won’t tear your head off regardless.

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Alessandro Cortini tends to surround himself with darkness. The Italian producer is most infamous as a torturer of modular synths and other bleak electronics for Los Angeles’ most famous industrial-goths, Nine Inch Nails. His previous solo LP, Sonno, slinked out on Prurient’s Hospital Productions — a bastion of the crepuscular, if there ever was one. And… More »